Study Groups
Our school covers the following groups:
- classes for all adults (beginners, intermediate and advanced)
- a mother and toddler group (0-3 years)
- a playgroup (3-5 years)
- five different classes for all school children according to age (5-18 years)
- swedish speaking group for children of all ages
Study Groups
You are welcome to come and see us and/or join a group any time! Please find all classes for children and adults below - click on the Group name to read more!
Volunteers in the classrooms needed! If you are interested in teaching or substitute teaching in the future, please contact Marianne Juusela-Howard. Other voluntary jobs available here!
| Group | Age | Intro |
| Parent- Toddlergroup |
0-3yrs | The toddlers learn Finnish whilst playing and singing together with the mummy or daddy. |
| Playgroup | 3-4yrs | Social interaction with other Finnish speakers is important and the playgroup is ment to provide fun moments for the child. |
| 5-year olds | 5yrs | Learning by singing, playing, reading books, interaction, puppets etc creativity. |
| 6-year olds | 6yrs | We practise reading around numerous themes. |
| Vocabulary Group | 7-11yrs | Main emphasis on learning the vocabulary and speaking using a suggestopedic teaching method. |
| 7-10 year olds | 7-10yrs | On this class we'll concentrate more on reading and writing. |
| 11-18 year olds | 11-18yrs | Practising writing, listening, conversations, reading, basics of grammar. |
| Svenska Klassen | children | The Swedish group is ment for the children of Finnish-Swedish speakers' families. |
| Beginners | adults | A good group for the beginners and the rusty - learning the very basics of the Finnish language. |
| Intermediate | adults | For students who already know some Finnish. |
| Intermediate B | adults | Discussions on various topics, current news and information and grammar as required. |
| Advanced | adults | For the more advanced Finnish speakers. |
St Albans Finnish school was founded in September 1985. It is a part of the worldwide network of Finnish Schools supported by the Ministry of Education in Finland. We are also a UK Registered Charity (number 1058809).
The school also act as an important messenger about Finland and Finnishness.
Our Syllabus is planned to take into account the needs of individual students and their families. Please refer to the page 'Enemmän Meistä' (in Finnish only) for more details on the Syllabus.
Student Groups
Our school covers the following classes, name of teacher included:
Groups for children and the Young
The toddlers learn Finnish whilst playing and singing together with the mummy or daddy.
The parents are encouraged to speak Finnish and take advantage of the numerous story books, cassettes and DVDs at the school library.
The parents are encouraged to speak Finnish and take advantage of the numerous story books, cassettes and DVDs at the school library.
Playgroup
(3-4yrs)
Rina Montaque & Kristiina Cooper, assistant Heli Tenhue
Social interaction with other Finnish speakers is important and the
playgroup is ment to provide fun moments for the child.
Through creatitive activities, interaction, music, books, play and trips learning themes such as me and my body, Finnish Seasons, Finnish holidays, colours, etc
Through creatitive activities, interaction, music, books, play and trips learning themes such as me and my body, Finnish Seasons, Finnish holidays, colours, etc
Learning by singing, playing, reading books, interaction, puppets etc creativity.
Themes chose from the child's own world of experiences such as travelling, hobbies, home
food, close relatives etc...
Important to learn the Finnish public holidays and traditional events via creativite activities (Christmas, Aprilfool's day, Easter, 1st of May, Mothers'/Fathers' Day, Midsummer)
Important to learn the Finnish public holidays and traditional events via creativite activities (Christmas, Aprilfool's day, Easter, 1st of May, Mothers'/Fathers' Day, Midsummer)
6-year olds
Johanna Arola
We practise reading and examine following themes amongst others:
Finnish music play/games, birthdays and namedays, months and the calendar, friends, ball games, Easter,
Spring, 1st of May and Mothers' Day, traffic (streets, pedestrian crossing, cycling way etc),
meal times etc
Main emphasis on learning the vocabulary and speaking
using a suggestopedic teaching method, where teaching is based on learning by doing.
Themes such as colours, numbers 1-20, weekdays, months, Finnish traditions and public holidays
Themes such as colours, numbers 1-20, weekdays, months, Finnish traditions and public holidays
7-10-year olds
Maria Leppälä
In our group the 7-9 -year-old children
try to maintain and develop the Finnish language mostly in the means of
conversation. We do play games and have different themes and especially in
the spring term we will consentrate in writing and reading Finnish. Still
the main aim in our group is to be fluently able to speak Finnish in
everyday situations and in the Finnish School we try to create an atmosphere
where speaking Finnish to everyone around is the natural thing to do.
Practising writing (creative writing, grammar), listening, conversations, reading
(aloud, by him/herself, together), basics of grammar (incl. adjectives, verbs etc).
Additional themes: travelling vocabulary (brochures, guiding, asking for directions, telephone conversations, buying/selling), times of the day, the sky, the earth, waters, geography (lakes, hills, vaara, tunturi), techology (computers, mobile phones), hobbies, shopping etc
Additional themes: travelling vocabulary (brochures, guiding, asking for directions, telephone conversations, buying/selling), times of the day, the sky, the earth, waters, geography (lakes, hills, vaara, tunturi), techology (computers, mobile phones), hobbies, shopping etc
The Swedish group is ment for the children of Finnish-Swedish speakers' families.
The teaching is based on verbal and visual communication (as some of the children are not yet numerate or literate), with emphasis on story telling, singing and creative activities. The children's parents are involved as unofficial classroom assistants and this helps to bridge the age gaps of the children. Special efforts are made to help the Swedish speakers see themselves as belonging to the majority group.
The teaching is based on verbal and visual communication (as some of the children are not yet numerate or literate), with emphasis on story telling, singing and creative activities. The children's parents are involved as unofficial classroom assistants and this helps to bridge the age gaps of the children. Special efforts are made to help the Swedish speakers see themselves as belonging to the majority group.
Groups for the Adults
Adult students - beginners, intermediate and advanced - use the book "Finn Talk 1", order form available here.
A good group for the beginners with no previous experience - learning the very basics of the Finnish language;
the alphabets, pronounciation, basic vocabulary and grammar, greeting and
introducing yourself (who you are, where are you from, what is your profession etc)
This group is suitable for students who have already some knowledge
of basic Finnish, e.g. they have studied for a year or two at the beginners level.
In addition they should feel comfortable with the vocabulary and the grammar of our
text book up to unit 5 (Finn Talk by T Leney & L Needham).
The emphasis is on active participation and working with a partner or in a small group
(speaking and writing tasks, listening and reading comprehension).
Discussions on various topics, current news and information and grammar as required.